The landmark moment has transformed British shopping, saving buyers and sellers millions of hours of time and making paying for goods and services quicker and easier.

Over the past decade, more than £60 billion has been spent using contactless cards and devices* and today more than half (51 per cent) of eligible transactions up to the £30 limit are made using the technology.

Such is the growth of ‘touch and go’ that Barclaycard research shows six in 10 Brits now choose to pay with their contactless cards and devices when the option is available and usage is projected to rise by a further 317 per cent by 2021**.

New data from Barclaycard’s Contactless Spending Index*** also reveals that nine in 10 eligible transactions in fast food outlets (91 per cent) and pubs and bars (89 per cent) are now made using contactless when the option is available. While in supermarkets and convenience stores more than three quarters (76 per cent) of purchases up to £30 in value are made using ‘touch and go’.

In the past 12 months contactless spending has continued to grow across all sectors. Clothing stores have seen the biggest jump with a 321 per cent year on year rise, followed by Parking lots (137 per cent), department stores (126 per cent), supermarkets (124 per cent) and gift, card & novelty shops (105 per cent).

Position Category Annual spending increase 
1 Clothing stores 321%
2 Parking lots 137%
3 Department stores 126%
4 Supermarkets 124%
5 Gift, card & novelty shops 105%
6 Convenience stores 101%
7 Hotels, motels, and resorts 96%
8 Hardware stores 89%
9 Discount stores 83%
10 Household appliance stores 61%
11 Pubs and Bars 60%
12 Caterers 54%
13 Fast food outlets 52%
14 Restaurants 47%
15 Drug stores & pharmacies 44%